Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Property owners complain homeless shelter will be bad for business

A shopping center on Seminary has a dance studio, veterinarian, mattress store, carpet store, martial arts studio, restaurants, bakeries, and a church.  Several business owners along Seminary Road and Center Lane in Bailey’s Crossroads are concerned that Fairfax County’s plans to move a homeless shelter to their area will lead to more crime, vagrants, and … Continued

Planning Commission approves e-Loft project for 5600 Columbia Pike

A rendering of the e-Lofts building at the corner of Columbia Pike and Carlin Springs Road. [Novus Residences]  The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Nov. 17 endorsed a rezoning proposal to convert a vacant office building at 5600 Columbia Pike into an innovative mixed-use concept, where tenants could choose whether to live, work, or do … Continued

Plans outlined for new Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter

The red box shows the location of the new site for the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. Fairfax County is going ahead with plans to relocate the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter to a site on Seminary Road – despite the fact that plans for redeveloping the current site fell through. The new three-story facility would be … Continued

Supervisors approve flexible school designs for urban areas

A gym under construction at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School.  The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 1 unanimously approved an amendment to the county’s Comprehensive Plan to permit more flexible school designs in urban areas. The new policy allows vertical schools on smaller than the traditional five-acre lots; schools in repurposed office or commercial … Continued

Proposed county policy would allow urban schools in high-density areas

Bailey’s Upper Elementary School opened in a converted office building on Leesburg Pike two years ago. The Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing Nov. 1 on a new policy to allow the development of “urban” or “vertical” schools in high-density areas or on parcels of limited size. The policy change would also amend the … Continued

Planning Commission approves redevelopment of Graham Park Plaza

The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to the county’s Comprehensive Plan to facilitate the redevelopment of Graham Park Plaza, an aging shopping center on Route 50. The owner, Federal Realty Investment Trust, wants to transform the 19.5-acre western part of the retail center, formerly known as Loehmann’s Plaza, into a mixed-use development … Continued

Land Use College will help residents understand Lincolnia planning study

N. Chambliss Street in Lincolnia.  Local residents are invited to the first of three Land Use College sessions tonight in preparation for Phase 2 of Fairfax County’s Lincolnia Study. The sessions will give residents a review of the planning process and how citizens can have input, says Faheem Darab, a senior planner with the Department … Continued

Lawmakers, residents call for more regulations on short-term rentals

Panelists discuss the Airbnb law (from the left): Mason Hills Citizens Association President Mike Rioux, code compliance official Elizabeth Perry, zoning administrator Leslie Johnson, Del. Kaye Kory, and Sen. Dick Saslaw,  Local residents who attended a meeting on short-term rentals Oct. 5 raised concerns about homeowners filling up their homes with transients, leading to declining … Continued

Federal Realty plans to bring apartments to Graham Park Plaza

The plan for revitalizing Graham Park Plaza. Arlington Boulevard is across the top. The white box at the bottom right is Giant. The Mason District Land Use Committee tentatively endorsed a comprehensive plan amendment Sept. 27 to facilitate the redevelopment of Graham Park Plaza, pending a favorable report by Fairfax County planning staff. Federal Realty … Continued

Planners share design details for new town center on Beauregard Street

An illustration of the town center for the West End in Alexandria. Representatives from a couple of architectural firms presented their plans for the development of two blocks in Alexandria’s West End Sept. 26 to the Beauregard Design Advisory Committee (BDAC). The City of Alexandria had approved the Beauregard Small Area Plan in 2012. JBG … Continued

Community meeting scheduled on short-term rentals

This guest bedroom in Annandale is available on Airbnb for $50 a night. Local residents are invited to attend a meeting on the growth of short-term lodging/rentals, such as Airbnb, in local neighborhoods. The meeting, hosted by the Mason District Council of Community Associations, is Oct. 5, 7-9 p.m., at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, 3333 Sleepy … Continued

Withdrawal of AvalonBay means Southeast Quadrant won’t be developed

The Southeast Quadrant on Columbia Pike. The withdrawal of AvalonBay from the land swap previously approved by the development company and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors means the Southeast Quadrant of Bailey’s Crossroads will remain undeveloped for the foreseeable future. “The land swap was negated when AvalonBay withdrew,” says Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. “It’s … Continued